Internal Connections District E-Rate Equipment - New Sites

The School District of Manatee County (SDMC) in Florida is conducting an E-rate funded procurement for internal connections equipment for two new elementary school sites: Artisan Lakes and Rye Ranch. The district is seeking proposals from USAC-approved vendors to provide networking infrastructure, specifically HPE Aruba networking switches, power supply units, port modules, and 174 ExtremeCloud IQ Indoor Tri Radio WiFi 6 access points with five-year cloud subscriptions. Vendors must provide original equipment manufacturer (OEM) stock with no used or refurbished items, and meet minimum qualifications including E-Rate compliance, a Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN), proof of insurability, and at least three years of experience in providing the required goods and services. The proposal submission deadline is November 13, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time via VendorLink, with bid evaluations scheduled for November 19, 2025. The evaluation will use a weighted scoring system across eight criteria, with total cost of equipment receiving the highest weight at 40 points, followed by equipment integration at 20 points, and other factors including past E-Rate experience, warranty, technical support, and training.

The procurement does not specify specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The contract period is from April 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027, with a project start date of April 1, 2026. The district reserved the right to extend the contract as needed for implementing a replacement solicitation. Vendors must provide fixed pricing with no escalation permitted during the initial contract term, and must carry comprehensive insurance coverage including statutory workers' compensation, general liability of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence, and automobile liability. Four bidders were evaluated in the final selection process: CDW Government LLC, PC Solutions & Integration, Inc., United Data Technologies Inc., and Beyond Tech USA LLC. PC Solutions & Integration, Inc. was ultimately selected as the highest-scoring bidder with a weighted score of 8.40 points. The funding source is the E-rate program for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 under E-Rate Funding Year 2029, though specific award values or precise budget ranges were not disclosed in the provided documentation.